Catena Zapata
Nicolas Catena Zapata Mendoza
2019
- BBQ
- Beef
About this winery
Catena Zapata: 1. The Foundations (1898 – 1960) The Arrival: Nicola Catena left Italy for Argentina in 1898. Convinced he had found the "promised land," he planted his first Malbec vineyard in Mendoza in 1902. Domingo’s Vision: His son, Domingo, grew the business into one of the largest vineyard holdings in the region, firmly believing that Argentine Malbec could rival the best Bordeaux wines. 2. Crisis and the Turning Point (1960 – 1980) Economic Struggles: During the soaring inflation...
See the Catena Zapata detail page for more information on this brand
Product notes
The wine recreates the “Original Bordeaux Blend” of the 18th and 19th Centuries, when Malbec dominated over Merlot and was in equal standing to Cabernet Sauvignon in the Médoc. Prephylloxeric Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon massale selections of ungrafted vines give rise to this wine, opening a window to the past from the mountain vineyards of Mendoza, Argentina.
Production notes
The harvest is done by hand and the fermentation takes place in small oak barrels, concrete and stainless steel tanks, at temperatures of 26-28ºC for about 10-15 days. The post-fermentative maceration lasts between 5 and 10 days. The wine carries out the malolactic fermentation and is then aged in French oak barrels for 18 months. At the end of our winter Dr. Nicolás Catena Zapata oversees the final blend before bottling.
Tasting notes
Deep cherry red. Round and generous. Aromas of dark fruits (cherries, blackberries), wood, vanilla, and chocolate. On the palate, the wine is extremely complex, unfolding layer upon layer of redcurrant, eucalyptus, and black pepper flavors. The black cherries and blackberries give way to blackcurrant, followed by a touch of saline minerality. The wine is remarkably concentrated with a firm tannic structure that forms the backbone of the lush fruit. The finish is long, a sign of the excellent aging potential of this Argentinian masterpiece.